household god: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2formal, literary, historical, academic
Quick answer
What does “household god” mean?
A minor deity or spirit worshipped by a particular family within a home.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A minor deity or spirit worshipped by a particular family within a home.
A person, object, or principle that is revered or treated with special devotion within a family or small group. Something seen as vital to the identity and well-being of a household.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. US English may use 'household deity' as a slightly more common alternative.
Connotations
Both have the same connotations. The term carries an archaic, scholarly, or literary feel in both regions.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialized in both British and American English, found primarily in academic texts and literary works.
Grammar
How to Use “household god” in a Sentence
the [family name] household godworship a household godtreat [something] as a household godVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “household god” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; possibly used metaphorically to describe a core, long-standing company principle.
Academic
Primary context: classics, anthropology, religious studies, history.
Everyday
Very rare; used figuratively to humorously describe a treasured family item or pet.
Technical
Specific to religious and anthropological terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “household god”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “household god”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “household god”
- Using 'household god' to mean a widely popular celebrity (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'patron saint', which is Christian in context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialized term from history and classics. Its figurative use in modern language is rare and literary.
The lares and penates of ancient Rome are the classic examples. The penates guarded the storeroom (penus) and the lares protected the hearth and household.
No, that would be incorrect. 'Household god' implies a very specific, *private* veneration within a family or small group, not widespread public fame. 'Household name' is the correct term for a widely known celebrity.
A 'household god' is a pre-Christian, pagan, often anonymous domestic deity. A 'patron saint' is a Christian saint chosen as a special protector of a group, place, or activity. The concept is similar, but the religious contexts are distinct.
A minor deity or spirit worshipped by a particular family within a home.
Household god is usually formal, literary, historical, academic in register.
Household god: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊshəʊld ɡɒd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaʊshoʊld ɡɑːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's made a household god out of that old armchair.”
- “That recipe book is practically a household god in her family.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a household OBJECT that your family treats with great RESPECT, almost like a GOD.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SACRED OBJECT IS A HOUSEHOLD GOD.
Practice
Quiz
In a modern figurative sense, what might a 'household god' be?